Street sign



Jan. 1, 1929. 1,697,025

G. s. SEARLE STREET SIGN Filed July 15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 5 [36 'IEEII 35$ 17 INVENTOR 62:07:96 a earle WWW fig ATTORNEYS Jan. 1, 1929.1,697,025

G. s. SEARLE STREET SIGN Filed July 15, 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i F hfi!INV ENTOR 5.560%

ATToRNaYs Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

UNETEEB GEORGE S. SEARLE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

STREET SIGN.

Application filed July 15,

The present invention relates to street signs and has for one object toprovide an improved device of this class for street in dicating andanalogous purposes and ema bodies structural improvements which renderit advantageous over signs of th1s type now in use, particularly in theemployment of a structure which makes it difficult for the sign bearingplates to be detached from the n holders by vandals or otherunscrupulous persons seeking to remove or appropriate the same withoutright or authority to do so.

A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with apost or other suitable form of support, a sign embodying comparativelyfew parts of simple construction which can be manufactured and assembledat a relatively low cost and which includes improved attaching meanstending to reduce the strain on certain of the parts to avoid bending orbreaking of the same in securing the sign to the post or other form ofsupport.

To these and other ends the invention re sides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation illustratingone embodiment of theinvention;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional plan takenon line 3= of Figure 1;

Figure l is an enlarged sectional elevation taken on line l -4; ofFigure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the sign holding frames;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on line (W 6 ofFigure 2 and showing the manner of disposing two sign plates in a singleholder;

Figure 7 is a horizontal section showlng a slightly modified signholding frame;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating a modified form ofattaching means for the frames; and

Figure 9 is a sectional plan taken on line Q -9 of Figure 8.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents a post or support preferably ofcylindrical construction which may constitute a lamp or 1927. Serial No.205,943.

other post such as those usually employed for supporting streetindicating or other signs, either of the illuminated or non-illuminatedtype.

i The invention embodies one or more sign supporting frames or holders,two of which are shown in the present instance at 11 and 12 forsupporting similarly constructed sign plates 13 for indicatingintersecting streets but which may carry other data such as advertisingmatter or any useful information.

lhe frames 11 and 12 are similarly constructed with but slightdifference as will appear hereinafter. They are rectangular in form andeachcomprises upper and lower sections l i and 15 having inner and outerconnecting sections 16 and 17, respectively as best shown in Figure 5.Upper and lower grooves 18 and 19 are provided respectively in thesections 14 and 15 and the end section 17 is preferably provided with avertical groove 20 for receiving the outer ends of the sign plates whilethe inner end section 16 is provided with an opening 21 communicatingwith the grooves 18 and 19 and through which the sign plates arepreferably inserted when moved to the position shown in Figure 3. Theframes 11 and 12 are each provided at their inner ends with laterallyextending lugs 22 which are connected by tie plates 23 through themedium of screws 24; extending through the tie plates and threaded intothe lugs as shown in Figure 6. The tie plates are preferably curved attheir inner edges to correspond substantially to the curvature of thepost 10 whereby to form continuous upper and lower bearing surfaces forthe frames between the inner ends thereof. Preferably, both inner endsof the frames 11 and 12 and the inner edges of the plates 23 are madetoengage the post to afford a maximum bearing a. surface thereon.However, if found desirable the plates or the frames either alone may beconstructed to engage the post. The frames are each provided at theirinner ends with vertically dispose-d lugs 25 having holes or openings 26therethrough for the reception of a clamping rod 2? surrounding the postas shown in Figure 2. The rod is extended through one of the holes 26 ofthe frame 11 and its ends are projected through both of the holes in theframe 12 but in opposite directions, one of the ends being provided witha head 28 and the other with a nut 29 for tightening the rod to clampthe frames upon the post. This-form of construction serves to avoidundue strain on the lugs when adjusting the nut to tighten the rod forthe purpose of clamping the frames upon the post, since the pull on oneend of the rod neutralizes that 011 the other end.

In the form of construction shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the sign plates13 are inserted through the openings 21 of the frames before applyingthe same to the post and when the frames have been attached to thepostas shown in these figures, removal of the plates cannot be effectedwithout first reinovmg the frames from the post. This is for the purposeof making it necessary to detach the frames before removing the plateswhereby removal of. the latter is made more dificult so thatunscrupulous persons may be deterred from stealing or making way withthe sign bearing plates.

In the modification shown in Figure 7, the frames are of the sameconstruction as shown in Figures 1 and 2 except that the outer ends areprovided with openings 29 to permit the sign holdingplates to beinserted .within or removed from the frames after the latter have beenattached to the post. In this form of construction, a. guard 30 isprovided for preventing unauthorized removal of the plates from theframes, the guard being preferably in the form of a screw extendingthrough the opening 29 and having its opposite ends fiush with andthreaded in the sides of the end connecting portions 17 of the frame asshown in Figure 7. The screw is provided at one end with a socket 31which is preferably hexagonal and which requires a correspondinglyshapedtool to effect removal of the screw before removal of the signplates can be effected. It will. be understood, of course, that theshape of the socket may be variedin order to require the use of tools,of varying shape in order to effect a removal. Thus removal of theplates by unscrupulouspersons is also made difficult in thismodification since it requires the use of a special tool to effectremoval ofthe screw.

The modification shownin FiguresS and 9 differs from that shown inFigures 1 and 2 only in the means for attaching the frames tothe post.In this form of construction the vertically disposed lugs E25 areprovided with slot-s 32 for the reception of a band 33 substantiallysurrounding the post 10 and adapted to be tightened to draw the framesinto clamping engagement with the post by turning the screw 34 shown inFigure 9.

If preferred, instead of employing one sign plate in each frame with thename of the street on both sides thereof, two plates 13 may be used asshown in Figure 6, each of which is provided with the name of the streeton one side only.

IV here it may be found desirable to use only one of the frames on apost this can be readily done by attaching it as a single element by theuse of either type of band shown.

It will be noted that the frames abut and radiate from the post and aredisposed in planes which intersect the axis of the post. This is thepreferred a *rangement but it will be understood that the angle betweenthe frames maybe varied to suit the angular relationship of differentintersecting streets and it will be further understood that the planesin which the frames are disposed need not necessarily intersect the axisof the post, although it is desired to have them intersect within thecircle forming the outside diameter of the post, and as clos to the axisas conditions will permit since shorter tie plates may be used betweenthe frames with this arrangement than when the frames are placed tangentto the post.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of a post and a street sign comprising a frameextending from the post and having its inner end terminating in closeproximity thereto, a name plate corresponding substantially in length tothe frame and being insertable upon the frame by a sliding movement in adirection toward the outer end thereof when the frame is detached fromthe post and being held against move ment in an opposite direction bythe post when the frame is attached thereto, and means for securing theframe upon the post. i

2. The combination of a post and a street sign comprising frameextendingfrom the post and having its inner end terminating in closeproximity thereto,,a name plate corresponding substantially in length tothe f ame and being insertable upon the frame by a. sliding movement ina direction toward the outer end thereof when the frame is detached fromthe post and being held against moven'ient in an opposite directionbythe post when the frame is attached thereto, lugs carried by theframe, adjacent its inner end, and bands substantially surrounding thepost and engaging the lugs whereby to secure the frame upon the post.

3. The combination of a post and a street sign comprising a groovedframe extending radially of the post, means connecting the frame withthe post and a nameplate having its edges disposed within the groove,said plat-e being insertable therein through the end of the framencarestthe post and being held against removal by the post when theframe is attached thereto.

4. The combination of a post and a street sign comprising a pair ofangularly disposed frames, means serving to connect the frames with thepost, said frames each being provided with longitudinally extendinggrooves, and a name plate disposed within the grooves of each frame andbeing insertable therein through the inner ends of the frames when thelatter are detached from the post, said post serving to hold the platesagainst removal through said ends when the frames are attached to thepost.

5. The combination of a post and a street sign comprising a pair ofconnected frames radiating from the post and having their inner endsabutting the same, means for clamping said ends upon the post, saidframes having longitudinally extending grooves and name plates carriedby the frames within the grooves and being insertable therein throughthe inner ends of the frames and held against removal by the post whenthe frames are attached thereto.

6. The combination of a post and a street sign comprising a frameextending radially from the post and including upper and lower groovedsections, means connecting the frame with the post and a name plateinsert-able within the grooves of said section by a longitudinal slidingmovement through the inner end of the frame before the latter isattached to the post, said post serving to prevent removal of the platethrough said inner end when the frame is connected with the post.

7. The combination of a post and astreet sign comprising a pair offrames radiating from the post and having laterally extending lugs attheir inner ends, a tie plate connecting said lugs, means connecting theframes with the post and a name plate detachably secured to each of theframes.

8. The combination of a post and a street sign comprising a. pair ofangularly disposed frames radiating from the post and being providedwith'openin'gs at their inner ends, bands extending through saidopenings and substantially surrounding the post to connect the framestherewith, a tie member extending between the inner ends of the framesto connect and brace the same and a name plate carried by each of theframes.

D 9. The combination of a post and a street sign comprising a frameradiating from and having its inner end abutting the post and beingprovided with openings therethrough, bands extending through saidopenings and substantially surrounding the post to connect the frametherewith, said frame having grooves formed therein, and a sign plateremovably disposed within said grooves and supported thereinindependently of said bands and having its outer end secured within theframe.

10. The combination of a post and a street sign comprising a pair offrames extending from and having their inner ends abutting the post,upper and lower tie members connecting the frames adjacent their innerends, means connecting the frames to the post, said frames each havinglongitudinally extending upper andlower grooves communicating with atransverse opening in-one end thereof and a sign plate carried by eachframe and being insertible and removable through said openin 11. Thecombination of a post and a street sign comprising a pair of framesextending from and having their inner ends abutting the post, a.clamping member encircling the post and having its ends extendingthrough one of the frames in opposite directions and having anintermediate portion in clamping engagement with the other frame, saidmemher having means for tensioning the same whereby to tightly clamp theframes upon the post and a sign plate carried by each frame.

12. The combination of a post and a street sign comprising a pair offrames extending from and having their inner ends abutting the post,means connecting the frames adjacent their inner ends, a tie rodencircling the postandextendinginto clamping engagement with one of saidframes and having its ends engaging opposite portions of the other frameto clamp the latter upon the post, said rod including means fortensioning the same to maintain the frames in clamped position upon thepost and a sign plate carried by each of the frames.

13. In a street sign for attachment to a post or the like, a framecomprising upper and lower grooved sections with inner and outer endconnecting sections, said inner section being provided with an openingthrough which to insert a sign plate whereby to position it within saidgrooves and being also arranged to engage and abut the post and havingportions adapted to receive securing means for attaching the frame tothe post. 14. A street sign adapted for attachment to a post or the likecomprising a pair of angularly disposed frames connected at their innerends and having longitudinally extending grooves and openings at saidinner ends in alignment with said grooves, sign plates disposed withinthe grooves and being removable through said openings when the framesare detached from the post, means connected with the frames for clampingthem upon the post and means secured upon each frame arranged to urgethe inner end of the sign plate thereof against the post.

15. A street sign adapted for attachment to a post or the likecomprising a pair of angularly disposed grooved frames having upper andlower sets of lugs, a tie plate connecting each set of lugs, sign platesdisposed within the grooves of the frames, securing lugs on said framesand means for attaching the frames to the post adapted to engage thesecuring lugs to clamp the frames upon the post.

GEORGE S. SEARLE.

